According to Education Minister V Sivankutty, students in Classes 8 to 10 will now have an extra 15 minutes in the morning and another 15 minutes in the afternoon on all working days, excluding Fridays. The academic year will also feature six designated Saturdays as class days, increasing the total number of working days for high schools to 204.

The updated calendar was created following a Kerala High Court decision in August 2024 that deemed the previous version with 25 working Saturdays invalid due to procedural errors. In response to the court’s ruling, the government established an expert committee, which suggested a more balanced strategy: limiting working Saturdays to one per month when necessary.

While the minister has claimed that the new schedule is both lawful and in accordance with national and state education standards, it has faced criticism from various groups, particularly some Muslim organizations such as the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama. They contend that the extended hours may disrupt religious education and community activities.

In response to these concerns, Sivankutty noted that several other states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, already implement longer school calendars. He also pointed out that Central Board schools like CBSE and ICSE in Kerala have longer academic hours compared to state-run schools.

Sivankutty accused opposition-supported teacher unions of politicizing the matter. He recalled that during the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) administration, class hours were extended until 4:30 pm based on the Labba Committee’s recommendations, without any notable backlash. “No one protested then—so we must question what is truly behind the resistance now,” he stated.

The minister reiterated the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue. If there are legitimate concerns, we are open to sitting down and discussing them. Any modifications to education laws must be processed through the Legislative Assembly—not through court interventions or public outcry.

The revised academic year will include 198 working days for Classes 1 to 4, 200 days for Classes 5 to 7, and 204 days for Classes 8 to 10. Alongside academic pursuits, the calendar features awareness initiatives, cultural activities, scholarships, and assistance for differently-abled students to foster a comprehensive and inclusive educational framework.

In spite of the debates, the state government stands resolute in its commitment to maintain instructional quality while adhering to legal requirements.